Flower Friday ~ September 14, 2018

What’s the first flower you think of when you think of autumn? If you’re like most people, the first one that comes to mind are mums. Have you ever experimented with other autumnal plants? While rounding the last block on our walk this morning, I came across something quite magical. An autumn crocus…Colchicum cilicicum.

Colchicum is free-flowering with up to 25 bright purplish pink flowers that deepen in color at the tips. When I looked it up, everything pointed to it being vigorous and easy to grow. Yay!! Colchicums prefer well-drained soil that doesn’t dry out in summer and they need shade where summers are hot.

Look at that color!! Isn’t it beautiful? I think I may try planting some of these guys for next year. Whatever you plant this weekend, we hope it’s grand.

We have a bit of a special affinity for mums inasmuch as the AJF is Japanese. For Japanese, the flower is not just a sign of autumn but it is also a national symbol – the monarchy is referred to as the Chrysanthemum Throne and the Imperial crest is a stylized mum blossom. This time of year the flowers are everywhere. They show up on your dinner plate, in pickles, on fashion, draped in store windows and at “matsuri” (festivals). Literally, everywhere. They are called “kiku” in Japanese and many girls, especially those born in Fall, have a name that include the flower, for example “Kikuko” (kiku child). My only problem with the plant is that it is so darn hard to type “Chrysanthemum”.

Don’t get me wrong, I love mums (and mostly refuse to type the whole name out because it is hard-I have to phonetically call out each syllable in order to do it), But that purplish color of those crocuses was so striking in a landscape of yellow, brown and rust. Then again some of that could be due to the lack of rain. 😉

When I read the introduction I thought of autumn crocuses…we had swathes of them at the last house in France…and scrolled down and there they were!
I liked sedums too, heads turning the colour of rust or dark pink.

There are many lovely autumn flowers other than mums and asters, which are ubiquitous this time of year. Autumn crocus are lovely, as are fall anemones. Crocus sativus is the one from which saffron is collected, but you’d need LOTS to make a teaspoon.

Sadly, too many gardeners have become accustomed to the ‘big box store’ plant availability. When I went to both HD & Lowes recently, they only had mums and not even asters. Had to go to a greenhouse to find one.

The sad thing is the pressure that the box stores put on the smaller growers. The florist industry has taken quite the hit. Will we ordering our wedding and funeral flowers to be jetted in from Colombia?

That’s about right. Really stupid. If it weren’t for a few small ma & pop greenhouses the selections would be pitiful. I just pray they can compete in a culture that only values cheap prices with little diversity.